System for damping movements of a load over a fluctuant watery environment and a vehicle comprising same

Abstract

A damping system is presented for damping an oscillation of a load on a fluctuant water surface. The damping system may include four buoyancy systems, two on each side of the load. Each buoyancy system may include two buoys, a lower frame and an upper frame.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A damping system for damping an oscillation of a load configured to travel on a fluctuant water surface, wherein a direction of travel defines a front, a back, and sides of the load, the damping system comprising:
 four buoyancy systems, two on each of the sides of the load, each buoyancy system comprising two buoys, a lower frame and an upper frame, each buoy being pivotally connected to the lower frame by a buoy axle, each lower frame being pivotally connected to the upper frame by a lower frame hinge, each upper frame having one or more central connectors connectable to the load, 
 wherein the buoys on each side are arranged in a line that is in the direction of travel, and 
 wherein the buoy axles, lower frame hinges, and the central connectors are parallel to the water surface and perpendicular to the direction of travel. 
 
     
     
       2. The damping system of  claim 1 , wherein each buoy rotates about its buoy axle. 
     
     
       3. The damping system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the upper frames are rigidly or pivotally connectable to the load by the one or more central connectors. 
     
     
       4. The damping system of  claim 3 , wherein an angular position of each of the central connectors is controlled by an electronic means. 
     
     
       5. The damping system of  claim 1 , further configured such that when the damping system is connected to the load, the buoyancy systems are located at an equal distance from the center of mass of the load. 
     
     
       6. The damping system of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyancy systems are symmetrically located about the center of mass of the damping system. 
     
     
       7. The damping system of  claim 1 , further configured such that when the damping system is connected to the load, the at least two buoyancy systems are located at unequal distances from the center of mass of the load. 
     
     
       8. The damping system of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between each buoyancy system is adaptable for damping a predetermined wavelength of oscillation. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle designed for damping an oscillation of a load and configured to travel on a fluctuant water surface, wherein a direction of travel defines a front, a back, and sides of the load, the vehicle comprising the load and a damping system,
 wherein the damping system comprises two pairs of buoyancy systems, the pairs positioned on each of the sides of the load, 
 each buoyancy system comprising two buoys, a lower frame and an upper frame, each buoy being pivotally connected to the lower frame by a buoy axle, each lower frame being pivotally connected to the upper frame by a lower frame hinge, each upper frame being connected to the load by one or more central connectors, 
 wherein the buoys on each side of the load are arranged in a line that is in the direction of travel, and 
 wherein the buoy axles, lower frame hinges, and the central connectors are parallel to the water surface and perpendicular to the direction of travel. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the load is a cargo container. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein each buoy rotates about its buoy axle. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the upper frames are rigidly or pivotally connected to the load by the central connectors at an angular position controlled by an electrical means.